Politics

Weiner's Sexting Matters; He’s Running For Mayor

They say timing is everything. So let us consider what we’ve learned from this week’s revelation that Anthony Weiner’s online self-portraiture hobby continued long after the would-be mayor resigned his House seat in embarrassment two years ago.

Take, for instance, this adorable bit from Huma during the couple’s much-ballyhooed “family interview” with People magazine last July:

“It took a lot of work to get to where we are today, but I want people to know we’re a normal family,” says Abedin, 37. “Anthony has spent every day since [the scandal] trying to be the best dad and husband he can be,” she says of her husband, who does all the laundry. “I’m proud to be married to him.”

Turns out that, in between fluffing and folding, Weiner was, during this exact period, starting up another online dalliance with another strange young woman he met cruising the Web—while using the handle “Carlos Danger,” no less. Way to let the wife dangle way out there on a limb for you, man. Proud to be married to you, indeed.

But it gets better. According to the 22-year-old sexting buddy (now) in question, Weiner’s naughty flirtation with her began in mid-July last year, got downright kinky by August (here’s a taste), then petered out (ouch, sorry) some time in November, with only one phone call lopping over into December. November? December? This leaves Weiner wrapping up this particular romp a mere four, maybe five, months before launching his political comeback with that super-size New York TimesMagazine profile that endeavored to show us just how much growing Weiner had done since his fall from political grace. And considering how long it takes to put a piece of that magnitude together—author Jonathan Van Meter indeed mentions breakfasting with the couple back in February—well, we’re looking at a gap between sin and rebirth of a few weeks rather than months. Guess it’s a good thing Anthony is such a fast learner.